Interview with John Etzil, author of Urgent Justice

What can you tell us about your new release, Urgent Justice?

Urgent Justice is the 4th book in the Jack Lamburt Vigilante Justice series. It’s number 2.5, the .5’s indicating novella length. Sheriff Lamburt needs to go on a road trip to investigate a missing teenager, and the only person  that can help him ID the person of interest is a feisty ninety plus year old lady, the Grande Dame of the Red Barn, Frances. Man is she a handful!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always loved reading mystery and action adventure stories but I’d never written anything until I was 55. I decided that I couldn’t just retire in 10 years and sit around so I’d better find something that I liked doing. Writing was the first thing that came to mind, it offered everything that I was looking for: independence, make my own schedule, I could work from anywhere, etc. I didn’t let the fact that I’d never written a word of fiction deter me.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Deliverance, Jaws, The Davinci Code, The Godfather, Murder on The Orient Express

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

James Patterson, and one of the questions that I would ask him is how he structures his work with other writers.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

Asking the “What if…” questions

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m up at 5, make some coffee, and start writing right away. Since I own my own photography business I only have about an hour a day to write, then it’s off to the Y for a workout and onto my real job. I can usually get a few hours of writing in on the weekends too.

What scene in Urgent Justice was your favorite to write?

The kidnapping scene where Jack must retrieve a weapon during the car ride. I love putting my characters in uncomfortable/impossible situations and figuring out a way for them to make it through them. Plus it has some good humor.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

An overall philosophy that we all have the ability to achieve what we want. Nothing to it, but to do it!

John Etzil is the author of the new book Urgent Justice

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